Iris lilies, how are things in your hood?

[dmc]

I didn't drink the Kool Aid - I started seeing through the US when I was 9. Obviously, not to this point, but I started grasping some of the basics even then. No one had to tell me anything, I figured it out on my own. YMMV, you get to see things as you wish. That does not make either one of us wrong or right. If how things are in the US now works for you, great. Just don't be surprised that it doesn't work for everybody and those disenfranchised start standing up for themselves. Rob

Things are very nice for me. I've never been afraid of the police and appreciate the job that they do. They have to deal with the worst of people. Are there some bad ones, sure, how many police do we have in this country? But for all we know brown attacked Wilson and would have killed him if he had dent shot him, but you don't seam to want to wait for the facts or the grand jury to decide.

But im a rich white guy, I figured out at a early age that I liked nice things and living in nice neighborhoods. So I applied myself and made it happen. I'll admit I started later than 9 though, but didn't expect anyone to give it to me. What the hell have you been doing all these years, surly you don't expect to wait tables part time and get ahead.

I really don't know why you stay in this country that you obviously dislike, from age 9 evidently. I'm not sure what country you think is better, but if I were you I would have figured out by now how to get there.

And I could care less what the UN thinks.

[Yossarian]

Or do you not give a flying fig about the crime problem that comes from the gangbangers?

It's actually the same problem, Rob's thinking is just inside out. Get rid of the gangbangers and we can go back to Barney Fife walking the beat. OK, maybe not that far but a lot closer. Actually in my neighborhood you actually could go that far. We are not an orderly community because the cops are nice, the cops are nice because the community is engaged and they don't have to deal with gangs or any real criminals. If they did I'd chip in for the MRAP or whatever it took to address the problem.

But Rob wants them to take on MS-13 with a friendly wave and a .38 revolver.

[goldensmom]

There are times that I am afraid of police. For instance, ‘I’m afraid (meaning regretful) that my relatives that are in law enforcement have to work and cannot come to Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, New Years Eve party -insert family/holiday gathering here-’.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Rob, you're stuck on the police brutality issue. You can't see past it. There are bigger issues in the black community, and even in the Hispanic one, I'd say. Or do you not give a flying fig about the crime problem that comes from the gangbangers?

Once you have witnessed police brutality right in front of you for no reason whatsoever it's pretty hard to ever trust the police again. About the gangbangers - you have a point here, too. The only problem is that there are innocent, law abiding citizens that are hassled and assaulted by police, just like my next door neighbors from Guatemala. I still feel guilty I was not able to get that illegal assault by the police on video with audio so they could get more money! What do we do about innocent people assaulted and attacked by the police? Certainly you don't believe that police automatically equals good, right, just? I knew differently by the time I was 13. About being stuck on the police brutality issue - let's do something as a nation about this issue, then there would be no reason to be stuck on it. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

I truly, truly, truly wish you had witnessed the brutal assault on my neighbors by the Phoenix police for no reason. I don't know if such would just slide off you and you'd make excuses for it? I don't know you so I can't say. Witness something like this, lose my faith and trust permanently. This was no different from police in a third world country that Americans might look down on. We have A LOT of work to do with our police brutality and excessive force and police discrimination and police disdain and disrespect issues as a nation. At least there are people out to gun for maximum dollars get officers locked up and get media coverage to encourage others to stand up....at least this is happening and going forward, I really believe that with the blood in the water of high dollar settlements, there will be more litigation due to police misbehavior going forward. I applaud this and I think it's long, long, long overdue. And I'm not even talking of the fatal shooting as I am police behavior AFTER the shooting. If anyone here is childish, it is the police for believing they should be above the law. I am of the opinion that perhaps my guesses as to outcome won't be 100% correct, but that will be disappointment in the future for certain posters here as to how Ferguson plays out in the courts, especially the cases involving litigation for police actions after the shooting. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

There are times that I am afraid of police. For instance, ‘I’m afraid (meaning regretful) that my relatives that are in law enforcement have to work and cannot come to Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, New Years Eve party -insert family/holiday gathering here-’.

Working in the service industry, the only holiday I ever had off was Christmas. I did get that off most places I worked, I will admit that. But I did not work for an employer that would hide any illegal misbehavior on my part, either. So I see your point and I agree that not all cops are like this - unfortunately, some are and it tends to be the lower classes that bear the brunt of this. Anyone I live around is afraid of the police and certainly they have valid reasons, as do I, to feel this way. I'm just glad to see their illegal behavior go viral around the world and I'm glad to see them start paying some consequences for their behavior - at least we have one termination and one resignation in Ferguson, who knows how many more to come - and I'm glad to see people winning against the police in court more these days. It's progress anyway. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

I'd just like to state for those who don't see it the way I do - I'm not the only out there by far who sees this issue this way. Whether or not you believe that, it's very much true. And to auto side with the police, is that not to tacitly approve of police brutality somewhere like Albuquerque where the police are under investigation for fatally shooting homeless people? I can't speak for anyone but myself but I don't want to live personally with tacitly approving of such. I long ago pledged to question authority and not just accept it at face value.....life has taught me that authority is very often corrupt and it's to my best interest to distrust it (for the most part). Anyway, the point was - I'm not the only one out there that thinks like this. I'd be willing to bet though that since America is so divided by social class, most of you posting here lately probably live in areas where most people think this way (not auto-questioning the police before all else) as I live in an area where I don't know of anyone who doesn't think the way I've been posting. I think this is sad as how is there a bridge to compromise, to weed the evil of out the police, end police brutality, and get huge settlements for the victims of illegal police actions?

I do see one positive development, though. I understand in USA Today that more police departments - perhaps fearing huge lawsuits due to their officer's misconduct (?), are inquiring about body cameras and I think that's great. This seems to be very good CYA for the police, I just hope there is a clause for instant termination/pension loss for those officers who turn the camera off so they can be above the law? That really needs to be taken into account before such a program can EVER be trusted by those most vulnerable to the police. Just sayin'. Rob

[Teacher Terry]

I have had friends that were cops & I have lived in places where the police were decent & other places where they are not. Where I live now I saw a cop brutalize someone for no reason. Also if you call the police here no matter what neighborhood you might just end up dead. WE had an incident where the woman called the cops because her mom had a gun and was suicidal. When the police got there they shot the unarmed daughter that called them for help. Then they fired a bunch of shots & killed the Mom. The daughter lived. This type of thing is not unusual here. I really believe that all cops should wear the recording device on their shirt so what really happens is caught on tape. If they are doing their job correctly then there will not be a problem. I have moved a lot thru my life & it really varies on how the police do their job. Some are excellent & some not so much.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I have had friends that were cops & I have lived in places where the police were decent & other places where they are not. Where I live now I saw a cop brutalize someone for no reason. Also if you call the police here no matter what neighborhood you might just end up dead. WE had an incident where the woman called the cops because her mom had a gun and was suicidal. When the police got there they shot the unarmed daughter that called them for help. Then they fired a bunch of shots & killed the Mom. The daughter lived. This type of thing is not unusual here. I really believe that all cops should wear the recording device on their shirt so what really happens is caught on tape. If they are doing their job correctly then there will not be a problem. I have moved a lot thru my life & it really varies on how the police do their job. Some are excellent & some not so much.

It really is best to never call the cops unless you absolutely have to - this kind of thing that you have posted happens more often than some here seem to think. What a horrible way to handle such a situation as you have posted above. I just don't get it but I do believe change is coming - maybe this will be the good that comes of the Michael Brown/Darren Wilson fiasco and the over the top police behavior afterwards? I sure hope so. Rob

[bae]

It really is best to never call the cops unless you absolutely have to -

Define "absolutely have to" please....